03 Jul 2026 08:45:15
Back with some info.
With the McAidoo news, being that he’s potentially leaving Manchester City, I’ve got a closer update on it.
They’re just looking at offers at the moment, and if he were to move it’s likely abroad. Liverpool not possible.
Also hearing that the club have kept a close eye on a Newcastle United U16/U18 player, who’s also a U16 England youth international.
03 Jul 2026 09:42:01
We were really interested the summer we got Rio. Supposedly comparable talents. Must regret choosing City looking at Rio on the verge of the England squad.
03 Jul 2026 09:56:43
I really don't get this total love in with Rio. For me, he has an awful long way to go. He shows some intent, of course, during his time on the pitch, but he's far from the player we require to challenge for the big titles.
I don't see anything extra special about him whatsoever. Perhaps he'll improve under Iraola's tutelage. I'm unconvinced he will, myself. imo.
03 Jul 2026 10:10:27
He's not even 18 yet and made more of a positive impact than most of our squad last season.
He's a kid, a proper kid. Give him time before you write him off.
03 Jul 2026 10:12:46
Shanklys Ghost, to be fair to him, he's 17 and he has been limited to training 2 days a week to protect him physically. He's quick, can go either way when playing on the left, and has a pretty decent shooting accuracy. Yes, his decision making and off the ball work needs to improve, and he will need to add aerial battles to his game given the way the game is going.
Plenty of time to refine him though.
Should be a dream player for Iraola to work with if he's willing to work hard for it.
03 Jul 2026 11:09:54
Shanks, he's 17. Seventeen. He's a boy.
For a 17 year old kid, he's very very good at football. You'd expect him to improve over time as he develops, and I think that's what fans are seeing.
03 Jul 2026 11:22:57
Rio does have a long way to go.
He is 17 after all.
He is potentially 10 years away from his peak. I'll be in my 50s by then. Geez that's scary lol.
So yes, that would qualify as a long way to go.
03 Jul 2026 11:35:10
I agree with Shanks, but recognise the points other posters have made about his age. He has a lot to learn, but he has time to learn it. Losing the unpredictability will help. Gakpo gets criticised for cutting on his right foot, but basically, that's what Rio does too. He will never reach the levels required or get sufficient goals if he doesn't learn to run in behind, too.
At the moment, he wants everything to feet so he can do stepovers. Stepovers are useless if they don't contribute to actually beating the opponent. One of the advantages Barcola has is that he can come short for the ball to feet, but he is rapid and can run in behind too. However, Rio has got 5 years on Barcola, so he has time to add that to his game, as well as being able to beat his man on the outside as well as cutting in.
Hopefully, Iraola will be the man to coach Rio to the next level.
Liverpool messed up last season by not replacing Diaz because 'they didn't want to block the path for Rio'. That was just an excuse not to spend more money, but Rio was nowhere near ready to be the first choice starter. Neither is he ready to be a regular this season either. He needs to earn that pathway. I am not saying he won't, just that he still has a lot to learn and will develop better without the pressure of being the one everyone looks to for goals and assists.
03 Jul 2026 11:57:31
For a young lad that barely played all season, he made a massive impact on the England squad pre World Cup. We should be lucky and excited to have him in our team instead of constantly writing him off before he's had a chance to show his full potential.
When I write this and read this, it seems mad. I have to bear in mind he's 17 years old.
03 Jul 2026 12:01:57
Shankleys Ghost, completely agree. I really don't see it, he's all step overs and not much else. I don't see him making it here.
I also think he will drop the club as soon as he gets a better offer.
And before anyone starts, this is my opinion.
03 Jul 2026 12:25:27
An absolutely extraordinary contrarian take from @ShankleysGhost! A lad who has broken through to the 1st team of one of the biggest clubs in the world, and in many appearances has been the one bright spot, and you're writing him off based only on evidence that he's already pretty bloody good!
I mean, it may surprise you to know that even Messi had room to improve when he was a teenager!
03 Jul 2026 12:30:47
Breaking News: 17 year old has "a long way to go".
More to follow.
03 Jul 2026 12:32:04
I don't think he's as good as people make him out to be at this very moment, but he absolutely has all the tools to make it to the very top of the game. Probably isn't exactly the same level as Sterling at the same age, but he might really have a higher ceiling than Sterling.
What I would say is that he has a lot to learn off the ball, and his decision making when he isn't going for goal himself leaves a lot to be desired, but that's just par for the course for a young player.
03 Jul 2026 12:27:28
I get the love in. He's not Lamal or an Owen or Rooney but Rio is well ahead of the curve for someone his age. He's playing in the best and most physical league in the world for a huge club that struggled last season. If he was playing in France or Portugal sauntering around some RB no one has heard of inn a compilation video people would be dying for us to sign him.
The site is always very contradictory when it comes to Academy players. There's always calls for more to get a chance but then on the other hand if they aren't playing like a seasoned professional before they are old enough to drink it's not good enough.
03 Jul 2026 12:42:18
At the same time, a kid of that age should not have those expectations put on him. We have also seen many times players lauded as the next big thing only to disappear into nothingness. This could happen as much as him becoming a worldie. I will reserve my judgment on him for the next couple of years, I do not think he's the next best thing since sliced bread, but will not write him off either.
I wish him the best for his future, but I don't see him as Liverpool's shining diamond and only hope for the future. If he left the club I wouldn't think all is doom and gloom.
03 Jul 2026 12:36:05
Fatwallet, he's a 17 year old who's had just 551 minutes (6 games) in the Premier League. It's far too early to pass judgement.
03 Jul 2026 13:07:30
Would his stepovers appeal more or less if his name was Connor Smith? :)
03 Jul 2026 13:20:55
I'm with Shankly, he's got some talent, but he's no Rooney/Gerrard/Owen. But the level of football these days is woeful. Clubs should not be allowed to sign kids or have any input on development until they reach 17. Let them learn skills playing with mates, not coached into same as each other.
03 Jul 2026 13:28:53
Who's Connor Smith and what's the relevance? I googled the name and got some random singer and some random baseball coach. Is he an exceptional talent?
03 Jul 2026 13:53:59
Agree with fatwallet. He needs to stop the step overs and start getting past players, make a positive contribution, not fancy Dan fannying around, which gets us nowhere.
New manager may get him to change and stop concentrating on show boating, nobody's impressed with a show off.
03 Jul 2026 13:58:48
I just don't believe that he's everything that people are making him out to be. Remember Jordan Ibe? Anyway, time will tell.
03 Jul 2026 14:01:47
@Scouse John, l8 Gerrard never made his debut till 18. How can you compare?
{Ed001's Note - Gerrard would have made it much sooner but had injuries.}
03 Jul 2026 14:16:28
@Shanklys Ghost, it's not Rio's fault that people are exaggerating what he can do at the moment.
He is just a kiddie, a 17 year old starting to get game time at the beginning of what could be an excellent career. Some people want instant gratification these days, and it doesn't work like that in real life.
He is possibly 10 years away from his peak and he has loads of aspects of the game that he needs to master. I suspect he can do it but he won't be anywhere near the finished article for a good while.
03 Jul 2026 14:13:56
Thanks ed I just feel he is being wrote off before he has even started? I personally think we are lucky to have him
{Ed001's Note - not sure how we are lucky? He is the lucky one to be at Liverpool, and to be given superstar treatment when he has not done a thing to deserve it yet. He didn't come to us out of the goodness of his heart, he came for money and guaranteed first team football.}
03 Jul 2026 14:36:08
I don't know all the ins and outs and what goes on behind the scenes, but from what I have seen I think there is potential there to be a good player.
03 Jul 2026 15:19:48
Red Gold, I would have done it soon. Not now, but not never. They get him to play 550 min n that's that. You was talking about someone else.
03 Jul 2026 15:30:03
Agreed ED01. The very one thing that nobody should be guaranteed is first team football. They need to bloody well earn it!
03 Jul 2026 15:54:31
Totally agree, by the way, that he has to work hard, produce the goods and, more importantly, know who it is he's playing for, but for me, there is deffo an excellent first team player in there given time, help and, most importantly, love!
03 Jul 2026 16:51:48
Given love??? You obviously jest, Sir!?!?
03 Jul 2026 17:14:55
I reiterate what others have said above, regardless of what our opinion on his ability is, he's a 17 year old kid starting out in his professional career, given love means being nurtured by those around him to allow him to flourish, including us fans, so we get the very best out of him. He hasn't even played enough first team football yet to properly reserve judgement, but even in that short space of time he's managed to score us a late winner at St James Park, been recognised by his national team and given his first international cap, at 17! That doesn't happen if you're not good enough.
There's also the business flip side to it, he's a saleable asset of the club, surely even from a business point of view you'd want to nurture your investment for the best possible return.
03 Jul 2026 17:27:40
Rio should never have been promised first team football, he should still be in the u18s learning his trade.
03 Jul 2026 17:54:28
Fabcruoe, he hasn't broken through to the first team though, has he?
He was promised it, that's a bit different to earning it.
03 Jul 2026 18:21:05
"He's no Rooney/Gerrard/Owen." Ah get rid so, if he can't even be up in them deadwood's league he has no future with a club that boasts Gakpo, Munoz and Chiesa as their current wing options.
03 Jul 2026 18:45:07
It's a disgrace the way some of you are talking about a 17 year old with just 6 games worth of playing time under his belt.
Fatwallet, doesn't matter if he broke through or he was promised it, he worked his ass off for the last 10 years to get where he is, and if the club deemed him capable enough, then he's earned the right to challenge for a spot, whether or not he did it in our academy makes no difference whatsoever.
03 Jul 2026 19:29:32
It does make a difference though, working and getting noticed is completely different to being promised first team football to get you to sign.
I get that he's a kid, but everyone on here seems to see the next big thing and some of us don't, but he should never have been promised first team football in the first place.
03 Jul 2026 20:02:07
I agree with Chewy. I'm off to bed.
04 Jul 2026 06:08:36
Even truly great and productive players like Messi don't really do a lot at 17 years old. Messi would get the occasional outing in the last ten minutes and mostly just dribble around a bit.
Cristiano was just doing 800 step overs and running into alleys.
Ronaldo (the good one) is an exception as the dude was absolutely destroying Dutch football.
Generally speaking, most 17 year olds do f*** all. Except Robbie, he was smashing five goals in at 17.